Assig-nos to



J. P. REMINGTON.

MEANS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING LIQUID FUEL T0 EXPLOSIVE MOTORS.

APPLICATION FIL ED MAY 26. 1919.

1,373,911. Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

REMINGTON IVEANUFAGTUEING GOEFEPANY,

GE YQHZLADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, A. GURPQRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

llttEAllS AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYENG LIQUID FUEL TO XPLOSIVE-MOTORS Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 26, 1919. Serial No. 299,836.

'0 all 107mm c'tmuy concern Be it known that l, Josnrn P. REMING- rou, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an lmprovement in Means and Methods for Supplying Liquid Fuel to EX- plosive-lltlotors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has tor its object the pro vision oi suitable means for supplying gasolens or other explosive fluid to a motor from a source of supplywhich is located at a lower level than'that of the carburetor of the motor, and which means shall be simple in construction, positive in action, inexpensive to manufacture and requiring very little space for installation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system'ior raising the gasolene other fluid to an elevation sutlicient to insure the flow, by gravity, to the carburetor in such manner that the flow shall be practically continuous during the operation of the motor, so to avoid the necessity of large reservoirs or tanks for directly supplying, the carburetor with the fluid; this being; accomplished by providing a direct pumping operation as distinguished from a continuous suction and with the result that approximately only sul'hcient gasolene is drawn to the higher level 01": the motor as would be required by the said motor under its maximum consumption. The pumping action is secured by providing the suction from a single cylinder of the motor, so as to obtain posltive intermittent action as distinguished from a practically continuous suction which would be secured from the intake manifold cit a multiple cylinder motor. l fhile in myimprove'rl system it is intended that the supply of grasolcne shall be maintained approximately in accordance with the consumption, it is manifest that the rate of consumption with the same engine varies under different speeds and loads and consequent y provision is made for operation between maximum and minimum reignirements; and the devices are so constructed that this condition is maintained by control of the liquid supply, to prevent, on the one hand, an abnormal rise of the liquid in the system and, on the otherhand,

an abnormal return of the liquid to the storage tank, during any variation in the oper ation of the motor.

l l ith the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will be more fully understood from the description taken in connect on with the drawings, the invention (JOllSlStS'll'l the novel construction oi apparatus as hereinafter more fully described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawingszhigure l is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating the application oi? my invention to a motor and supply/tank; 2 is a vertical sectional view of the means for controlling the flow oi the gasolene; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 33 of 2, but on a larger scale; and Fig. lis a perspective view oi? the valve piece shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which is directly operated by the intermittent pressure of the motor cylinder.

2 illustratesa multiple cylinder motor of any suitable character, such as employed in automobiles or motor boats, and in which the several cylinders 3 may be supplied from a common carburetor l, through the usual manifold system. 5 is the reservoir or supply tank and which is shown at a lower level than the carburetor l, and from which the gasolene or other explosive fluid is required to flow through pipes 7 and 8 to the carburetor under the regulation oi? the control mechanism 6 which is arranged at a higher elevation than the carburetor and made eilective by the varying: pressure, due

to the pulsations supplied through a pipe 9 from one of the plurality of cylinders 53.

in tie operation of this apparatus, the single rylinder operates as a pump to supply suction and pressure alternately through the pipe 9, these actions of suction and pressure tak ng place alternately in a rapid intermittent manner during the run ning of the motor. The construction of the device 6 is such that the suction impulses produced the pipe 9 are intermittently madeeilective to create vacuum impulses within the chamber of the said device, whereas the pressure impulses in the pipe are excluded far as possible from the said chamber or the device. in this manner, the gasolene is caused to flow from the tank 5 upwardly through the pipe 7 and into the chamber of the device 6, and thence, by gravity, to pass through pipe 8 to the llatented Apr. 5, 1921.

carburetor it. The device o is provided with valve means to prevent a back flow of the gasolene to the tank 5 exceptat certain times and at the same .time is provided with means for permitting access of atmospheric pressure to its'chamber alternately with the suction impulses, these suction impulses and atmospherioadmissions being produced in rapid succession during the normal running of the motor.

More specifically describing the internal construction of the control device 6, reference will be made to Figs. 2, 3 and a which illustrate a preferred construction. 10 is a tubular body which is closed at top and bottom to provide a float chamber. At the bottom, this body 10 is screwed into a base 11 provided with an outlet 12 for connection with the pipe 8 which leads to the carbu reter i; and this outlet 12 is provided with a check valve 13 which permits tree flow of gasolene from the float chamber to the carburetor, but prevents any suction within the float chamber drawing the gasolene from the carbureter'through the pipe 8 into the float chamber. Screwed into the bottom of the base 11 is a bushing 14 having a screw threaded nipple for connection with the supply pipe 7 leading from the reservoir 5. The bushing 14 is recessed on its upper part to provide an enlarged chamber 15, and when screwed into place within the bottom of the base 11 it is made to clamp a strainer 16 of suitable material in position to prevent any particles of dirt finding its way from the reservoir 5 to the float chamber and thence to the carbureter. The base piece 11, immediately above the strainer 16, is provided with a vertical aperture 17 opening into the float chamber within the tubular body 10. The top of'the tubular body 10 is screwed tightly into a head 18 which is provided with a vertical passage 23 and a horizontal passage 20, said passages communicating with each other, as shown. The horizontal passage 20 is provided at one end with a valve seat 21 and at the other end with a valve seat 22, said valve seats facing in opposite directions. The passage 20 and its valve seat 21 are in communication with a threaded nipple 19 with which the pipe 9 (Fig. 1) is connected. is a valve stem preferably square in cross section (Fig. 3) and has upon one end a valve piece 26 and on the other end a valve piece 27, said valve pieces respectively adapted to cooperate with the seats 21 and 22 aforesaid. The length of the valve stem 25 is such that the valve pieces 26 and 27v are separated a slightly greater distance than are the seats 21 and 22, so that when the valve piece 26 seats tightly upon the seat 21, the valve piece 27 is clear of its seat 22, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Similarly, when the valve piece 27 is seated tightly upon its seat 22, the

valve piece 26 will be off its seat 21. This valve piece is put into rapid reciprocation during the normal running oi the motor, as it makes one reciprocation with each reciprocation of the piston in the cylinder with which it is in communication through the pipe 9.

A float 28 is arranged within the float chamber formed by the tubular body 10 and this float is of elongated shape in a vertical direction, so that the diameter of the body 10 is relatively small. The upper end 01" the float 28 is provided with a conical valve piece 29 the extension of which is guided in the aperture 23. The lower edge of this aperture constitutes a valve seat 21 in which the conical valve piece 29 seats when the float is sufliciently raised by the presence of gasolene in the float chamber, as indicated in Fig. 2. lVhen this condition takes place, the suction produced by the motor does not become effective upon the contents of the float chamber because the valve piece '25) acts as a check valve to close the communication with the float chamber. The lower part of the float 28 is similarly provided with a conical valve piece 30 and a guide extension 31 therefrom extends downward into the vertical passage 17 to hold the float centrally of the float chamber. If the gasoleue within the float chamber becomes lowered sulflciently, the float will be lowered also and the valve piece 30 will seat upon the upper edge 32 oi the aperture 17 and act as a check valve to prevent the gasolenc in the float chamber flowing back into the tank The operation will now be understood: Assuming that the motor is in operation with the preliminary supply oi gasolene in the carburetor, the alternate suction and pressure which is produced in the cylinder 3 connecting with the pipe 9, will exert alternately a suction and pressure through said pipe in synchronism with the reciprocations of the piston in the motor. and this will be with every reciprocation oi the piston, whether the motor be a two-cycle or tour-cycle machine. The higher the speed of the motor, the more rapid will be the alternations between suction and pressure in the pipe 9. The effect of the alternating suction and pressure in the pipe 9 is to reciprocate the valve piece 25. (in the suction stroke of the motor. the valve piece 25 is moved to the right (Fig. 2) and this enables the suction to extend into the float chamber, causing inflow of gasolene until the float 28 is lifted sufliciently to close the aperture 23. The suction impulses will cause the gasolene to flow from the reservoir 5 through pipe 7 and upwardly into the float chamber, and in this case the gasolene will pass from the chamber 15 through the strainer 16 and passage 17 into the float chamber. If the level of the gasolene is sufliciently low to allow the valve piece 30 to seat upon its seat 32, then said valve piece acts as a check valve, and while permitting the inflow of the gasolene, prevents the backflow thereof into the reservoir 5. On the pressure stroke of the motor, the valve piece 25 is moved to the left, to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which case the pressure is shut off from the float chamber and at the same time said float chamber is in communication with the atmosphere by reason of the fact that the valve piece 27 is moved away from its seat 22. When this action takes place, the gasolene within the float chamber is free to pass by the check valve 13 and through pipe 8 to the carburetor l, it being understood that the float controlling the valve of the carburetor regulates the delivery o1 gasolene to the carbnreter in accordance with its requirements. If during the normal operation of the apparatus, the gasolene in the heat chamber rises to the level indicated in Fig. 2, it will raise the float and, in so doing, cause the valve piece 29 to seat at 2-1 to close the passage 23, so that no further suction can exert its influence within the float chamber to increase the height of the gasolene therein; and this condition will be maintained until the level of the gasolene in. the float chamber descends sufiiciently to lower the float, either by the gasolene passing to the carbureter or back tirough pipe 7 to the reservoir, or partly to each of these causes. Under the normal operation of the motor, at something less than its maximum speed and for all lesser speeds, the valve piece 30 will act as a checlr valve to prevent back-flow oi gasolene from the float chamber to the reservoir. For all higher speeds. of the motor than those indicated above, the check valve piece 30 will also act as a check valve to prevent bachflow of the gasolene except when the gasolene should rise above the normal level intended within the float chamber, in which case, the float being lifted, raises the valve piece 30 and permits baclrtlow ot the gasolene until sufficiently lowered that the valve piece 30 may again seat and act as a checlr valve. Should the motor continue to operate at high speed and thereby provide suction upon the float, chamber in excess or what is normally necessary, then in such case, the gasolene will rise to a level suilicient to lift the float and its valve piece to shut off the suction by sealing the passage 23, and maintaining this condition until the level of the gasolene rowers sutliciently to again insure valve piece 30 seating and acting as a check valve. The valve piece 29 acts as a check against abnormal rise of the gasolene and loss by drawing it out of the float chamber. By means of the devices above referred to, the level of the gasolene is maintained within reasonably close levels,

which insure an average normalstatic head sufficient to insure proper supplying of gasolene to the carbureter under all possible con ditions.

l have shown a vent aperture 236 (Fig. opening from the that chamber into the valve seat 22 which, when the valve piece 2'? is oil its seat, will permitready access of air into the float chamber to break any vacuumthat might be therein and to insure the flow oi the gasolene to the carburetor. While the use or this vent aperture 36 makes the apparatus more sensitivefl have found in practice, that it may be dis pensed with and reliance for the breaking oi the vacuum be placed upon the air passages 20 and 23, since any vacuum which might be in the float chamber would draw the air at atmospheric pressure through said passages past the valve piece 29 and into the iloat chamber, as the float descends.

ll hile I have shown the float 28 and its valve pieces 29 and 30 oi? such proportions that approximately a halt inch movement to the float. would be required to unseat one valve piece and seat the other, l do not limit myself to these proportions, and hence the construction may be such that a lesser movement 1 the float may be provided for. By reference to Figs. 3 and i, it will be seen that the stem 25 of the valve pieces 26 and 2'? is made square in cross section and the purpose of this is that it shall so lit the aperture 20 at four places, that it is properly guided thereby while permitting the passage of air and thereby obviates the necessity of achlitional guiding means.

Apparatus oi this character requires very little additional space under the engine hood of an automobile, because the controldevices ti are only approximately six inches long by one inch in diameter and, therefore, it has been found exceedingly easy to install apparatus of this character in the available space in automobiles.

l have described my improved method and means in that particularity which I deem to be the bestexposition of my invention, and

that which i prefer in commercial practice,

but ll do not restrict or confine m self to the minor or secondary details, as such riations may be resorted to as matters of mechanical skill and without a departure from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for supplying a liquid fuel to an explosive motor, compris up; the combination of a motor provided with a carburetor, areservoir for liquid fuel at a lower elevation than the carbureter,'a chamber at a higher elevation than the carbureter, a pipe leading from the lower part of the chamber to the carburetor, a pipe leading from the liquid fuel to flow from the reservoir into the chamber and normally preventing flow in the opposite direction, and a valve device for alternately providing communication between the chamber and the atmosphere on the one hand and the pipe communicating with the motor cylinder during its suction cycle on the other hand, said valve device arranged for synchronous reciproc tion with each change from pressure to suction in the cylinder of the motor, and vice versa.

2. The construction specified in claim 1., having the reciprocating; valve devices consisting of two oppositely arrranged valve pieces permanently connected at a distance apart diiierent from the distance apart or the valve seats therefor, ports in communication with the valve seats and with the liquid fuel receiving chamber, tee spaces beyond valve seats being respectively in communication with the atmosphere and with the pipe leading to the cylinder of the motor, whereby the reciprocation oi' the valve pieces close communication with the atmosphere when making communication between the motor cylinder and the chamber, and vice versa;

3. 'rhe structure specified in claim i, having the chamber provided with a vertically movable float having at its upper end a valve piece for opening and closing commu- V uication between the chamber and the valve device which controls communication with the cylinder of the motor, whereby when I the liquid fuel has risen in the chamber to level of the liquid fuel therein has become sufficiently lowered.

4. The invention specified in claim 1 wherein the chamber is provided with a float having valve pieces at both top and bottom for respectively controlling the communication between the chamber and thecyl inder of the motor to prevent suction within the chamber when the liquid fuel stands therein at a'maximum level, and tor controlling the return flow of the fuel from the chamber to the reservoir to l'mit the extent of the fall of the liquid fuel within the chamber, said float controlled valve nieces operating alternately according to the position of the float and the level of the liquid fuel within the chamber.

5. The invention according to claim 1, wherein a check valve movable under the actionof the varying liquid level within the chamber is provided for interrupting the comn'iunication between the cylinder and in terior of the chamber whereby the suction produced by the motor is not permitted to affect the liquid within the chamber after it reaches a maximum level.

6. The invention specified in claim 1. further having the chamber provided with a float and valve piece to close communication with the upper part of the chamber when a. maximum level of liquid fuel is contained therein, whereby a normally closed or open communication may be automatically provided with the chamber according" to the level of the liquid fuel therein and without interfering with the normal rapid recipro cation. of the valve device which is ellcctcd by the alternating pressure and suction cilecl's produced within the motor.

7. In a device for controlling the Suppl of liquid fuel to a motor, the combination of a float chamber having at the bottom an intake port and a discharge port, each provided with check valves for respectively permitting the inflow oi fluid to the float chamber and outflow from the float chamber through the discharge port, a passage from the upper part of the float chamber having communication both with the atmosphere and with an inlet port arranged for co1umunication with source of alternate suction and pressure, two check valves connected together and movable as a unit for alternately shuttingoil communication be tween the chamber and the atmosphere while oponii onimunication between the chamber and the inlet port leading to the source 0! suction and pressure and vice versa, and float and valve operated thereby within the float chamber for controlling communication with the upper part of the float chamber whereby communication thereof with the inlet port leading to the source of suction and pressure may be shut oil automatically whenever the liquid within the chamber rises to a maximum level.

8. The invention specified in claim 7. wherein the checl: valve for controlling the intake. port at the bottom oi? the float chamher is connected with the float, whereby it automatically opened when the float rises and closed when the float descends.

9. The herein described method of supply ing the liquid fuel to the carburetor of the iotor from a source of fuel at a. lower level than the carbureter, which consists in supplyingliquid fuel to a chamber arranged at a higher level than the carburetor. maintaining communication between the lower part of the chamber and the source of liquid fuel, producing in the immediate upper portion of the chamber alternate impulses of pressure and suction synchronously with the varying pressure and suction within the cylinder of the motor, controlling the action of said suction and pressure of the motor upon the contents of the chamber by intermittently shutting 0d the pressure effect of the cylinder and piston of the motor from the chamber and simultaneously opening communication between the chamber and the atmosphere to cause the liquid fuel to flow by gravity to the carbureter and alternately therewith closing communication between the chamber and the atmosphere and causing thereby the suction effect of the cylinder and piston of the motor to be communicated to the interior of the chamber, whereby vacuum impulses are provided within the chamber and act to raise the liquid level therein, the fuel content of said chamber being intermittently influenced by the suction impulses oi the motor and the atmospheric pressure controlled as to times of action by the pressure impulses of the motor.

10. The method specified in claim 9, further characterized by employing the rising fluid level within the chamber to actuate means to close communication between said chamber and the source of suction by the motor, whereby the said suction is prevented from affecting the contents of the chamber when the liquid therein is at a maximum level.

In testimony of which invention, 1 hereunto set my hand.

JQSEPH PERCY REMINGTON. 

